DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse told me after the debate: “Everything we've ever said about Mitt Romney is that we think every position he takes is pure politics. The man stands on stage and says, I told the company, you can't hire illegals, I'm running for office for Pete's sakes. I mean, what could look more political than that?”

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul called the video - and the gaffe issue - a political distraction.

"[President Obama] and his campaign will continue to try and distract Americans from his failed economic record over the next year but it’s not going to work," she said.